Unser DubaiGuide
What does it cost to live in Dubai?
- As of October 2026 · with sources
- Reading time 4 min
How the figures are built
These are typical ranges, not a promise. We use a fixed guide rate of €1 = AED 4.00; euros come first, the AED amount follows. Only tariffs and fees such as school fees (KHDA), the fuel price and the housing fee are official. Rents come from the dubizzle H1 2026 market report (market data), everyday items from Numbeo (crowd-sourced benchmark, not official). The Dubai Land Department's official rental index is a lookup per building and gives no summary table.
Costs of a month at a glance
| Household | basic | medium | upscale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | €1,980–2,320 AED 7,900–9,300 | €3,220–4,080 AED 12,900–16,300 | €4,900–6,050 AED 19,600–24,200 |
| Couple | €2,450–3,180 AED 9,800–12,700 | €4,680–5,800 AED 18,700–23,200 | €7,100–9,400 AED 28,400–37,600 |
| Family, 2 children | €4,920–6,580 AED 19,700–26,300 | €7,520–10,400 AED 30,100–41,600 | €13,100–19,200 AED 52,400–76,800 |
Included: rent, housing fee, power, water and cooling, internet, self-paid health insurance, transport, groceries and leisure, plus school fees for families. Not included: one-off costs, nursery, school extras, mobile phone, domestic help, trips home and savings.
The big items
- Rent: example one-bedroom flat, annual average according to dubizzle: International City AED 60,000, JVC AED 77,000, Dubai Marina AED 102,000, Downtown AED 133,000 a year. It is usually paid in advance with 1 to 4 cheques.
- Housing fee: 5% of annual rent, collected in 12 instalments through the DEWA bill.
- School fees: according to KHDA fees for 2026-27, half of all schools charge less than about AED 38,000 per child a year (median); the most expensive tenth charge over AED 78,000. The range runs from about AED 4,000 to over AED 138,000.
- Health insurance: employers insure their employees. The self-employed, founders and retirees pay themselves; broker figures give about AED 3,000 to 7,000 per person a year for standard plans. Age drives the price strongly.
- Transport: Special 95 petrol cost AED 4.28 a litre in October 2026 (Fuel Price Committee, reset every month). The Salik road toll is AED 4 to 6 per crossing. A public transport pass is about AED 275 a month according to Numbeo.
- Power, water, cooling: much higher in summer than in winter. District cooling adds connection and usage charges.
Do not forget one-off costs
At the start you also pay the deposit (usually 5% of annual rent), agency fees, visa and medical test, furniture, removal and often the first year's rent in advance. Families add school registration fees and uniforms. Plan a separate buffer for this.
Step by step in the app
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Information and planning to do it yourself. Not legal, tax or migration advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to live in Dubai?
As a guide at a medium level: single about €3,220 to €4,080 a month, couple about €4,680 to €5,800, family with two children about €7,520 to €10,400. Add one-off costs such as the deposit, agency fees, visa, furniture and often a year of rent in advance.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Dubai?
There is no single answer; it depends on rent, school fees and whether your employer pays health insurance. Our medium-level ranges above are a starting point. From Plus, the app's personal cost calculator works through your own figures in your currency.
Do you pay rent a year in advance in Dubai?
Usually yes, in 1 to 4 cheques. On top come the deposit, usually 5% of annual rent, and the housing fee of 5% of annual rent through the DEWA bill.
How much are school fees in Dubai?
According to KHDA fees for 2026-27, the median is about AED 38,000 per child a year (around €9,500). The range runs from about AED 4,000 to over AED 138,000, plus extras such as uniform and school bus.
Sources
Retrieved on 14 and 15 October 2026. Official bodies first; market data and benchmarks are labelled as such.
- dubizzle: Dubai Rental Market Report H1 2026 (market data)
- Dubai Land Department: Rental Index
- KHDA: Dubai school directory
- Numbeo: Cost of Living in Dubai (benchmark, not official)
- Khaleej Times: fuel prices October 2026 (UAE Fuel Price Committee)
- Property Finder: Utility bills and housing fee (secondary source)
- Lookinsure: UAE Health Insurance 2026 (market data)
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This page provides general information and is not legal, tax or migration advice. Rules, amounts and fees can change; the office named is authoritative. Euro amounts use the guide rate €1 = AED 4.00.